Worship
Take some time to think of things to thank God for, before you read or sing through the words of this modern classic.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the Lord, …

You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord, …

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forever more
Bless the Lord, …

Sermon on the mat: Expectantly I expected
Psalm 40

I’ve been reading through the psalms during lockdown, and am struck again by the real-ness of the writing, the honesty of people struggling with life and faith.

Psalm 40 contains a bit of everything: some pleading, some complaints, a lot of praise. In Latin, it’s known as Expectans Expectavi. V1, which we read as ‘I waited patiently for the Lord,’ was translated, ‘Expectantly I expected the Lord to act.’ Because of David’s faith in God, he knows God will save him. He isn’t surprised when God acts, he expects him to do so.

We don’t know what situation David is struggling with, what his ‘mud and mire’ are (v2). Sin and his own failings? Doubt and uncertainty? Other people’s jealousies? Whatever has caused his struggles, God lifts him out of that slimy pit and puts him on a firm rock, on safe ground. I think one of the difficulties of this pandemic has been the invisible nature of the ‘enemy’. It’s hard to feel safe when we can’t see or hear the peril. But we can feel safe in God. He is our Rock, our firm place to stand.

David knows that, he turns it to praise. And as the song 10,000 Reasons says, when you start praising, you find more reasons to worship. God’s good deeds truly are ‘too many to declare.’

But God does not just want us to sing or say our worship; he wants us to live it in service to him. As vv6-10 say, God wants us to listen to him, to follow him, to internalise and understand his laws, his love, his mercy. And to share them with other people. God acted in David’s life and David then told others so that they too could see and praise God. We need to be quick to tell other people how God is at work in our life, so that they can catch glimpses of what it means to have faith today.

I’ve been challenged recently about the fact that children in primary schools and holiday clubs are quite likely to hear Bible stories, have visitors from churches, etc. But this is much, much rarer in secondary schools and youth clubs. As if Christianity is something we grow out of. As if it’s something for children, like fairy tales. I fear a lot of people think that. How often do you hear that Christmas is ‘for the children’, Easter is about chocolate and egg hunts?

We have a responsibility to share what it means to have a living faith in a loving God, as adults, in our modern, confusing world. If we are conscious of all God has done for us, and is doing on a daily basis, if we are turning those things to God in praise, then they are at the front of our minds. Ready to share when the time is right.

Psalm 40 links sharing faith and mercy. Verses 9 and 11 are parallel verses: ‘I do not seal my lips’ and ‘do not withhold your mercy’ use the same Hebrew word. David is in effect, saying, ‘I don’t hide tales of your help from others, you don’t hide your love and mercy from me.’

That love and mercy are ongoing. We are not saved once, we are saved daily. We are not helped once; we are helped every time we cry out. Overwhelmed, in vv11-15 David calls out for help again, and for vengeance on those who make his life difficult. The requests for revenge are hard to read. I think if we’re honest we wish they weren’t there in the Bible. But David is doing the right thing: he is telling God how he feels. Being honest. And then leaving it to God.

There’s no point praying and pretending that all is OK when it isn’t. God doesn’t need small talk. There’s no point praying for help and then helping yourself. Why talk to God if you’re going to do it anyway?

We need God, he is our help, our deliver. We need to expectantly expect him to act.

Prayer
You have done amazing things for me Lord,
I still need you to do more.
I thank you that there is no end to your love and mercy.
Thank you that you hear my prayers
and that I don’t need to pretend with you.
Help me to trust you and to speak of your love to others.
In Jesus’ name. Amen

Please pray for –
– Wisdom as lockdown eases, that people will be sensible and considerate of others; and that those in authority will make sound decisions for the benefit of the majority
– Those who are still isolating, that they won’t be forgotten
– Those countries with weaker healthcare systems, that the virus won’t take hold.